Intermittent thread cutting mechanism



July 4, 1944. J. E. REPASS INTERMITTENT THREAD CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 7, 1942 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O. X Ms M WS\ E N m E A E s E M J July 4, 1944. *J. E. REPASS 2,353,078

INTERMITTXENT THREAD CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 7. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. JAMES E. REP/15.5.

BY a w :g

ATTO/PNFY.

Patented July 4, 1944 UNITED STATES r INTERMIT-TENT THREAD CUTTING 'MECHANISM James E. Repass, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Applioationseptember 7, 19.4 2, Serial No. 457,591

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a temple threadcuttor for a filling replenishing loom, and more particularly to means for controlling the operation thereof. 7 a A The temple thread cutters usually employed on a filling replenishing loom to trim the filling ends at the salvage are of the type in which the parts remain in continuous operation so-long as the loom is functioning.

Attempts have been made to .devise -'a temple thread cutter which would operate intermittently, as required-, -to out the filling ends periodically formed in conjunction with the replenishing operation. Prior devices constructed for intermittent operation were not satisfaotorybecause they were too complicated to be commercially acceptaole or were not dependable in operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a temple thread cutter which will perform a cutting operation only when there is presented to it a filling end to be cut, and in which there will be no wearing action on the cutting edges at other times, and which will be dependable in operation and simple and compact inconstruc- .tion with all of the parts contained in the temple head assembly. 7

.It is a further object of this invention to provide an intermittently operable temple thread cutter with the parts constructed -so -they canloe applied to the temple head assembly in place of the parts of commonly used -existing types of continuously operated temple threa'd-outters-to .convert them to intermittently operable devices.

These and other objects may be attained-bythe devices shown .as an exemplary modification of my invention in the following drawings, -although it will be understood that Ldonot wish to be limited to the specific structural details therein dis- -closed,but to .be tree to use-all mechanical equivalents thereof within the scope of the appended c1aims,..and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a plan View -o f a portion of the magazine side of a filling replenishingloom of conventional design with a temple thread cutter embodying my invention applied thereto;

2 represents an elevational view, in perspective, of .a temple head assembly containing a thread-cutter made according to my invention, :andish ows the parts disposed in an inoperative position; v

. Fig. 3 .represents.the:same view .as shown in .Fig. 2, but shows the parts :in;an operative position; v

. Fig. 4 represents an elevatinnalview, partly in section, of the temple thread Ecutt taken apoperation .of the transfermechanism the filling carrier with aanew one.

proximately along the line 4-4 of Fig.1, but showing the parts in operative position Fig. 5 represents an elevational View of the side of the temple thread cutter, as seen from the direction 5-5 of Fig; 1,.showing the parts in inoperative position. 1 r

.The portionsof the loom shown in the "drawings comprise a breast beam l on which :is mounted .a magazinez, for reserv filling carriers and a temple assembly 3. A lay is constructed to reciprocate toward and away from th -foreast beam. Affixed to the endo'f the lay is a shuttle box 5 which traps the shuttle B and: positions it under the magazine on a -forward reciprocation of the lay so that it may receive a replenished filling carrier .as needed. i

When the filling-carrier. presently in theshuttie .is exhausted, a .feeler v mechanism initiates 'I to replace Atapprox'imately the same time, andbefore the transfer .;is.;accomplished, a thread parter' 8 approaches :the shuttle to part .and1claxnp the filling end F-l -from; the, outgoing filling .carrier .and ::draw it .forwardly of Lthe loom.

i "When .the.transier,. has

been perfected and the shuttle started on its first .pick ther-eatter, a new :filling end .F-e2is 'iormed leading from. a thread holder on the magazine to the selvage '13 of the fabric. on subsequent picks 'the filling F--.3' is distributed along the lay with-inthe shed W to be beaten into the fell. The temple assembly '3 is provided'to hold the fabric in extended position as it is formed, and "a temple thread cutter subsequently will cut the filling ends at the selv'age so they may be withdrawn from the operating parts and not inter- "Eere with the proper' functioning thereof or be drawn into thefabricto cause an "imperfection 0 in the-cloth. I

The foregoingconstruc'tion'and process are'well "known to the art, and i'therefore an extended explanation is not thought to be necessary here.

Attached to a stationary part of the loom, and extending rearwardly therefrom in a position ,to clear the top surface of the lay and the inner end 9 of the iront box plate l0, is,a thread'hoLder-"I I.

Whenthe filling ends F-,-,l and -F-2 tare formed, they will be disposed forwardly-oi thelay and in the path of. -reciprocation of. the-front lbox plate. As the lay beats forwardly projections 12 and i 3 on. the box plate will .en'gage the fillmg endsand carry themxforwardly .with it IIr-i this manner the filling ends willbe brou ght into encutter again assuming an inoperative position when the filling ends are cut, in a manner to be described.

The temple assembly is attached to one end of a temple bar I4, the other end of which is resiliently supported on the breast beam of the loom for movement forwardly and rearwardly thereof. Extending downwardly from the temple bar, approximately at the point where the temple head assembly is connected to it, is a flange l5 which is placed across the path taken by the reciprocating lay as it approaches its forwardly position. Slight forward motion is transmitted to the temple assembly by contact of the flange with the lay, the assembly being returned to a rearward position through the action of a compression spring on the temple bar, the construction and arrangement of which is well known in the art.

The temple assembly comprises a temple head |6 having a pod l1 and a temple top H! housing the usual temple rolls l9, and another portion forming a support for the temple thread cutter.

Within the support 20 is formed a longitudinal passage 2| in which the cutter blade 22 is mounted for sliding and rocking movement. The cutter blade is long enough to extend entirely through the passage, and the rearmost end is retractable therein.

The cutter blade has at its rearward end a nose 23, Fig. 4, of somewhat L shaped formation, on one side of which, and facing forwardly is a cutting edge 24. On the adjacent side wall of the passage 2| is secured a ledger blade 25, in a position to cooperate with the cutting edge. When the'cutter bladeis in a position where it will be operable to perform a cutting operation, the cutting edge will be displaced rearwardly of the ledgerblade to enable a filling end to be introduced between them.

On the side of the passage opposite from that containing the ledger blade is ailixed a bearing plate 26. An adjusting screw 21. is screw thread- .ed into the side wall of the support 20 in a position to abut the bearing plate. By manipulating the screw 21 the plate 26 can be brought to bear on the side of the cutter blade to control the pressure between the cutting edge and the ledger blade. The friction produced between the bearing plate, cutter blade and ledger blade serves to retard the free motion of the cutter blade in the passage 2|.

On the forward end of the cutter is formed a f fixed a second pin 30. A continuous spring 3| has helically coiled portions 32 and 33 embracing pin 29 and 30, respectively, and one end 34 of the spring is placed in a support 35 on the temple bar. The spring is mounted so that it will act on the pin 29 to cause the cutter blade to be rocked upwardly and projected rearwardly into an operative cutting position.

The structure as thus far described is similar to that shown in the patent to Stimpson, No. 1,838,588, dated December 29, 1931. In this form the cutter blade will reciprocate continuously during the operation of the loom, being retracted into the passage 2| each time the lay beats up and being projected rearwardly by the spring each time the lay recedes. By my invention, I have devised a means for holding the cutter blade in the retracted position with the cutting edge stationary unless there is presented to the mechanism a filling end to be cut.

The pin 29 extending from the heel of the cutter blade is made somewhat longer than is necessary to provide a seat for the portion 32 of the spring, and on it is pivotally mounted one end of a linkage member 36. The member 36 extends upwardly at an angle from the pin 29 and thence horizontally along the side of the support 2|] toward the screw 21. The rearward end of the member is bifurcated as at 31 and the arms of the bifurcated portion are disposed on each side of said screw, As the cutter blade reciprocates forwardly and rearwardly, the member 36 will be carried with it.

Surrounding the screw is a collar 38 and on this is rotatably mounted a latch element 39, disposed outwardly of the member 36 so that the latter lies between the latch element and the side face of the support 20.

The collar may be screw threaded onto the adjusting screw 21 and formed with a nut 4|] on its outer end to serve as a means for locking the adjusting screw in position and to hold-the latch element in place.

The latch element is in the form of a bell crank lever, having two angularly disposed arms, one, 4|, extending downwardly and having its rear- .ward edge in approximate alignment with the rearward face of the support 20, and the other,

42, extending forwardly in an approximately horizontal direction. The arm 42 has a projection 43, formed on the end of it, extending within the bifurcated portion of the member 36. This arm is shorter in length than the horizontal extent of the bifurcation so thatthe member 36 may move in a rearward direction, to the limit of travel determined by portion 44 of the cutter blade being brought into contact with stationary parts of the support 20.

' When the member 36 is reciprocated, the projection 43 rides along the top surface of the lower arm 45 of the bifurcated portion 31. This surface is stepped to provide horizontal edges 46 and 41, Fig. 5, at two different levels, which are connected by a vertically, disposed portion 48 of notchlike formation.

Asthe member 36 moves forwardly,

the projection 43 is in contact with the edge 46 until the member has progressed far enough to permit the projection to drop downwardly to the edge 41. Now if the member 36 moves rearwardly the projection will catch in the notch 48 to halt further movement.. Since the member 36 is connected to the cutter blade, from whence it derives itsreciprocal'motion, when rearward movement of; the member is blocked the rearward movemerit of theblade alsowillbe stopped. The notch '48 is placed in a position to engage the projection 43 on the lever arm 42 when the cutting edge 24 has been retracted within the passage 2|.

The heel'of the cutterblade is positioned in relation to the flange l5 so that when the blade is locked in .retracted position the heel will be dis-posed slightly rearwardly of the flange. Thus, when the lay comes forward, it will first contact the heel 28 and carry it forwardly until contact is made with the fiange |5.-' The temple assem bly will then be moved forwardly as aunit with no further relative thereto. 7

The initial forward movementof the heel portion will cause the member 36 to move forwardly an amount suf icient to disengage the notch 48 from the projection 43, leaving the latch element 39 free to be rotated.

The arm 4| of the latch with its rearward vertical edge parallelto the rearward face of the support 2B when the latch element and the member 36 are in interlocking relationship. The filling ends stretched along the rearward face of the temple assembly between the selvage and the threadholder M will press against the arm 4|. The adjacent corner of the support may be relieved throughout a'length co-extensive with the possible points of contact of the filling ends and the arm 4|, as at 49, to assure that there will be proper engagement between the parts.

Thus, if such filling ends are present, when the arm A2 is freed from interlocking relationship with the notch 58, it will act on the arm 4| to rotate the latching element in a clockwise direction causing the projection to rise above the notch. Then, as the lay recedes from contact with the heel 28, the spring will be able to rotate the cutter blade in a counter clockwise direction and move it rearwardly, the projection 43 traveling along the bifurcation between the edge 45 and the top portion thereof. Through such a motion, the cutting edge 24 will be carried over, and rearwardly of, the filling ends, which motion of the heel portion element is positioned now will be disposed between the cutting edge and the ledger blade. As the lay again reciprocates forwardly, it will contact the heel of the cutter blade and cause the latter to be rotated in a clockwise direction and move forwardly into the passage 2!, severing the filling ends.

When the filling ends are parted they will drop away from the latching element, which, under the force of gravity, will rotate in a counterclockwise direction until the on the edge 41 of the member 36. As the lay again reciprocates rearwardly, the projection will engage the notch 48 to hold the cutting blade in a forward position.

It is apparent that during normal operation both filling ends F-| and F--2 will engage the lever 39 but under some conditions either one of the filling ends may become broken. In such a case, the remaining filling end will engage the lever 39 and will condition the parts for operation by the forwardly moving lay. Thus, it is tobe understood that either one or both of the filling ends will operate the lever 39. n i

To prevent wear'on the cutting edge of the blade while the parts are locked in inoperative position, I have provided a means to permit lost motion between the heel portion of the blade and the nose portion thereof, so that the cutting edge may remain stationary even though the heel portion is placed in motion by the lay. To this projection 43 rests v end, I have formed the cutter blade in two parts by dividing it approximately midway of its longitudinal extent, as shown in- Fig; 4. The parts are interconnectedfor unitary motion-at some times as follows: l

The forward half of the cutter blade,'that is, the portionto which the heelis connected, has formed in it a'recess 50. Into this extends a part 5| which is formed on the rearward half or nose of the bladawhich is the portioncontaining the cuttingedge. The part 5| isv formed with'a reduced portion 52 connected to' an enlarged portion 53. The recess 50 isformed with flanges 54 and 55 on the rearward end thereof and theyare spaced apart enoughto receive the reduced. portion 52 when the enlarged portion 53 is placed within the recess. The longitudinal dimension of the flanges is less than that of the reduced portion 52, and the longitudinal dimension of the enlarged portion 53 is less than that of the recess, to thereby permit relative longitudinal movement between the parts. Sufficient clears ance is allowedbetween all adjacent surfaces of the parts to enable such movement tobe accomplished; Then the cutter blade is placed in the passage 2| the parts will be confined in a manner to prevent lateral displacement thereof.

, Starting with the cutter blade in an operative position, when the lay contacts the heel portion to retract the blade, the flanges 54 and 55 will engage the enlarged portion 53 to draw the nose of the blade within the passage 2|. During this procedure the bearing plate 26 will press the cutter blade against the ledger blade to cause it to bind slightly. 7

As the lay releases contact with the heel 28 the forward half of the blade will again move rearwardly, butthe nose of the blade. containing the cutting edge will remain stationary until the lost motion between the interconnecting parts is taken up. I Now if the latch element 38 engages the mem ber 35 to hold the heel portion of the cutter blade in a forward position the proportions of the parts aresuch that thisresult will beaccomplished before the lost motion is eliminated, and therefore before any rearward motion is imparted to the cutting edge. Hence, while the heel portion of the cutter blade partakes of a limited continuous motion in the locked position due to the action of the lay, that portion of the blade containing the cutting edge will remain stationary.

When the latch element releases the member 35, the heel portion of the cutter blade will be permitted full travel in the rearward direction to take up the lost motion and project the cutting edge beyond the rearward face of the temple assembly.

It is apparent thatthis particular form of lost moti'onconnection is not essential to the proper functioning of the device and that other f'ormscould be substituted in its place with satisfactory results.

To recapitulate, normally the nose of the cutter blade will remain retracted within the pas sage 2| with the cutting edge 24 stationary during the operation of the loom. When a transfer of a replenished filling carrier has been accomplished and filling ends formed, the cutter blade will be released to cut them. Although the-cutting operation will usually be completed within two reciprocations of the lay, that is, from a forwardly position to a rearward position, and again forwardly, if by any chance the filling ends are not then cut the cutterblade will continue to function until they are severed.

Normally, the cutting edge will be in motion during a very small portion of the time the loom is being used, and a great partof the wearing action incident to continuous operation thereof will be eliminated.

Having thus described a of my invention, I claim:

1. In a filling end cutting device for filling replenishing looms, a supporting member for a loom temple located close to the selvage of the cloth, a cutter blade mounted therein for movement from an inoperative to an operative position, a spring connected to the cutter blade for moving it to an operative position, a member connected to said cutter blade, means mounted on said sup porting member to engage said connecting member normally to hold said cutter blade in an inoperative position, said means being actuated by an incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end to release said connecting member to perpreferred embodiment mit said spring to move said cutter blade to an I operative position.

2. In a filling end cutting device for filling replenishing looms, a supporting member for a loom temple located close to the selvage of the cloth, a cutter blade mounted therein for movement from an inoperative to an operative position, a spring connected to the cutter blade for moving it to an operative position, a linkage member connected to said cutter blade, means mounted on said supporting member to cooperate with said linkage member normally to hold said cutter blade in an inoperative position, said means being actuated by an incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end to release said linkage member to permit said spring to move said cutter blade to an operative position, said means again cooperating with said linkage member to hold said cutter blade in an inoperative position after said filling ends are cut.

3. In a selvage trimming device for a loom having a lay reciprocating between a forward and a rearward position, a support for said device, a cutter blade mounted therein for movement between an inoperative and an operative position, a spring connected to said cutter blade for moving it to an operative position, said cutter blade being moved to the inoperative position by the action of the lay thereon, a linkage member connected to said cutter blade, means mounted on said support to cooperate with said linkage member normally to hold said cutter blade in the inoperative position, said means being constructed and arranged to be actuated by an incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end to release said linkage member to permit said cutter blade to be moved to an operative position to perform a cutting operation as it is being returned to the inoperative position by the lay, said means and said linkage member again cooperating to hold said cutter blade in the inoperative position when the filling ends are cut.

4. In an intermittent temple thread cutter for a filling replenishing loom having a lay reciproeating between a forward and a rearward position, a support for said thread cutter, a cutter blade mounted in said support for movement from a forward to a rearward position, a spring connected to said cutter blade for moving it to a rearward position, said cutter blade being movable to a forward position by the action of the lay thereon, a linkage member connected to said, cutter blade and extending rearwardly along a side of said supporting member, a latch member mounted on said side of the supporting member adjacent said linkage member, said latch member being constructed and arranged to cooperate with said linkage member normally to hold said linkage member and said cutter blade in a forward position against the action of said spring, said latch member being actuated by contact with an incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end to release said linkage member to permit said cutter blade to be moved rearwardly by the action of said spring to perform a cutting operation, said linkage member and said latch again cooperating to hold said cutting blade in a forward position when it is returned there by the lay.

5. In a filling end cutting device, a supporting member, a cutter blade mounted therein for improvement from an inoperative position to an operative position, a spring connected to the cutter blade for moving it to an operative position, a linkage member connected to said cutter blade and movable therewith and extending rearwardly along a side of said supporting member, said linkage member bein bifurcated at its rearward end, a latching member in the form of a bell crank lever rotatably mounted on the side of the supporting member adjacent the bifurcated end of the linkage member and having one arm thereof disposed parallel to the said bifurcated end, said arm having a projection thereon detachably engaging a notch formed in the said bifurcated portion when the said cutter blade has been moved to an inoperative position normally to hold the said cutter blade in the inoperative position, the other arm of said latching member being vertically disposed with its rearward edge positioned to be engaged by an incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end, said latching member being constructed and arranged to be rotated by contact with the filling ends to detach said projection from said notch topermit said spring to move said cutter blade to an operative position to out said filling ends, said latch member being rotatable to its original position when released from contact with said filling ends whereby said projection will reengage said notch when the cutter blade is returned to the inoperative position.

6. In a filling end cutting device, a cutter blade mounted for movement from an inoperative to an operative position, said cutter blade comprising a nose portion and a heel portion with a lost motion connection between them, and means normally holding said cutter blade in an inoperative position wherein said nose portion will remain stationary while said heel portion is in motion.

7. In an intermittent thread cutter for cutting the incoming filling end in a filling replenishing loom, a supporting member for a loom temple located close to the selvage of the cloth as it is being woven, a cutter blade mounted on said supporting member for movement from an inoperative position, means mounted on said supporting member for normally maintaining said cutter blade in inoperative position, and means mounted onsaid support and member actuated by engagement with an' incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end' to release said maintaining means and to permit movement of said cutter bladeto operative position.

8. In an intermittent temple thread cutter for a filling replenishing loom, a supporting member for a loomtemple located close to the selvage of the cloth as it is being woven, a cutter blade mounted on said supporting member for movement from an inoperative to an operative position, means normally urging said cutter blade toward operative position, means mounted on said supporting member for normally maintaining said cutter blade in inoperative position, and means mounted on said supporting member and actuated by engagement with an incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end to release said maintaining means and to permit said spring to move said cutter blade to operative position.

9. In a filling end cutting mechanism for a filling replenishing loom having a lay reciprocating between forward and rearward positions, a supporting member fora loom temple, a cutter blade mounted therein for movement between operative and inoperative positions, a spring normally urging said cutter blade toward operative position, meansmounted on said supporting member for normally maintaining said cutter blade in inop: erative position, and feeler means mounted on said supporting member and actuated by an incoming filling end and an outgoing filling end to release said maintaining means and to permit the spring to move the cutter blade into operative position and out of operative position by action of the .lay until said feeler means is released by severing of the filling ends.

JAMES E. REPASS. 

